English Reference

Word

racism

US/ˈɹeɪˌsɪzəm/

UK/ɹˈeɪsɪzəm/

Definitions

01prejudice or discrimination

B2

n. unfair treatment or dislike of people because they belong to a different race or ethnic group.

n. prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

“The organization works hard to fight racism in local schools and workplaces.”

“The report highlighted how casual racism in the workplace can create a hostile environment for minority employees even when it is not overt.”

02the belief in racial hierarchy

B2

n. the false belief that some human races are naturally better, smarter, or more capable than others.

n. the ideology or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement.

“Scientific racism was used in the past to justify very cruel laws.”

“The pseudo-scientific theories of racism that emerged in the nineteenth century were used to provide a moral veneer for colonial expansion.”

Synonyms

racialism

03systemic or institutional

C1

n. laws, rules, or social systems that give advantages to one race while treating others unfairly.

n. the collective failure of an organisation or society to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin.

“The protesters called for an end to systemic racism in the legal system.”

“Sociologists argue that systemic racism can persist through housing and education policies even in the absence of individual prejudice.”

Academic

Usage

Often used with modifiers like 'institutional', 'systemic', or 'structural'.

Synonyms

institutional racismsystemic bias

Real-World Examples

“Employers should be required to take active steps to prevent racism.”
Phys.org · 28 Sept 2026
“He wanted to see how bad the racism was and he experienced it first-hand when refused service in a pub.”
The Guardian · 28 Sept 2026
“You need to raise the issue of race and racism not as a special thing, but as part of business as usual.”
The Guardian · 15 Sept 2026
“Racism will affect candidates before, during and after job interviews in many more ways than I’ve described.”
BBC · 24 Feb 2022

Etymology

Borrowed from French racisme, equivalent to race + -ism.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

racismNounracistNoun

Related words

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/racism

English Reference